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BACKGROUND In January 2009, the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) and the Alameda County Congestion Management Agency (CMA) initiated a study to identify service sharing and /or consolidation opportunities between the two agencies. The study examined whether mission critical responsibilities could be delivered in a more streamlined and cost effective manner if the two agencies operated on a more integrated basis. Another project objective was to determine if there was sufficient information to allow policy makers to make a decision about whether to move forward with an implementation analysis and develop a plan for a possible integration and potential consolidation. A final report delivered to both agencies in July 2009 concluded that there were in fact attractive opportunities for a range of service sharing and integration efforts. The greatest opportunities for consolidation and efficiency improvement were in the areas of financial services, administrative services and capital project delivery. In May 2009, the consultant made a presentation to the ACTIA and the CMA Boards of Directors during a joint meeting which described the opportunities for service sharing and potential merger of operations, opportunities for cost efficiencies and estimated annual savings. The presentation pointed out that the ten -year return on investment was very good, with up -front costs relatively minor considering the long term goals and benefits. The joint meeting also discussed the potential for blending the Boards of Directors into one Board. The initial analysis was compelling enough for the Boards to move forward with an implementation analysis and plan. The Merger Implementation Plan was completed in January 2010 and accepted by the joint Boards of Directors at their January meeting. As a result of the two separate studies, both Boards of Directors at a joint meeting in January 2010 expressed support for a proposed merger of the two agencies and directed staff to bring back at a joint meeting in February the necessary actions to form a new Joint Powers Authority (JPA) which would generally have the powers of a congestion management agency and of ACTIA. The Boards further agreed on a new structure for a combined Board of Directors (see below) and expressed support for the title of Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) as the name of the new proposed JPA. In February 2010, the joint Boards approved a draft Joint Powers Agreement and directed staff to present it to the Board of Supervisors, the City Councils for all 14 cities in the County, and the Boards of AC Transit and BART. ACTIA and CMA staff are now seeking approval of the new Joint Powers Agreement and the necessary parallel changes to the CMA Joint Powers Agreement. The ACTIA Board will take steps to amend the 2000 Transportation Expenditure Plan, following a 45 day review period, to change the composition of the ACTIA Board so that it is the same as that of the proposed new commission (ACTC). Steps will also be taken to terminate ACTA and transfer the Agency's assets and liabilities to ACTC. Neither of the latter two steps requires individual action by member agencies. The goal is to achieve all the necessary approvals by July, with the new commission launching in September of this year.